SWAT: The Swat Qaumi Jirga on Tuesday declared that the Malakand division, particularly Swat, enjoyed complete peace and order and emphasised that it would not tolerate the presence of any terrorist in the region.

The observation came during an important meeting of the working committee comprising the members of the jirga held in Mingora chaired by elder Irfan Chatan. Representatives of various organisations and parties also attended the meeting.

The participants asserted that there was perfect peace in Swat. However, they alleged that after a number of vehicles of security forces entered Swat and personnel were stationed on mountaintops in different areas, attacks on Swat police and sniper gun shootings began.

In one of these incidents, they said a policeman, Mushtaq Shaheed, was martyred, and some youths were injured in Matta tehsil.

The jirga members expressed their concern over the emerging situation, making it clear that it was the responsibility of the state to protect the lives and property of people.

The elders assured the people of Swat that the jirga would not leave them alone or at the mercy of bloodthirsty elements under any circumstances. They expressed solidarity with the policemen, praising their sacrifices and courageous struggle for peace.

“It is clarified once again that the brave people of Malakand division, especially Swat, are not in favour of any military operation. The police can easily crush and eliminate the terrorists if they are provided better training, modern weapons, and other facilities,” they said, adding that all the people of Swat would stand by their police in any situation.

The members of Swat Qaumi Jirga also decided that a broader meeting of national and social leaders of Swat would be held on September 8, where an effective plan of action would be decided against the ‘fake dominance’ of terrorism in Swat.

“We have already assigned responsibilities to different committees formed for peace in Swat,” they said.

The jirga members further stated that in case of negligence and failure of the government, the people must be ready to implement the devised plan to protect their lives, property and honour.

A resolution passed on the occasion strongly demanded that the government provide reasonable compensation to the family of the martyred constable and financial support to the injured policemen.

The jirga also flayed the government for scrapping the projects of agricultural, engineering and animal science universities for Swat, and demanded their immediate restoration.

They also deplored the huge cut of Rs18 billion in the development funds of Swat, and demanded that the ‘cruel’ decision should be reversed.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2024